Kirsan Ilyumzhinov meets with Korean chess representatives
Head of the Republic of Kalmykia, FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov was invited to the inauguration of President-elect of the Republic of Korea Lee Myung Bak. As part of his visit to the Republic of Korea, the President met with representatives of the chess organizations of South Korea.

For information: At the moment the FIDE member is the Korean Chess Association (since 2003). An earlier FIDE member was Korean Chess Federation. Moreover, there is a second organization called Korean Chess Federation. Hence, none of these organizations has been able to gain acceptance by the Korean National Olympic Committee.

At the meeting with the FIDE President, K.Ilyumzhinov, President of South Korea Lee Myung Bak expressed dissatisfaction with the situation that prevents the full development of chess in Korea. Therefore, the FIDE President met with representatives of all Korean chess organizations. He told them about the changes that have taken place in the life of FIDE, about the situation of chess development in other countries of the world and answered a number of questions. During the meeting, it became clear that none of these organizations has registration through all the Republic of Korea. FIDE President appealed to all concerned parties to discuss this issue regarding the union of all forces of chess, so that one organization which unites all the Korean players should be represented in FIDE and for further registration in the National Olympic Committee.

At the meeting it was agreed that the issue should be taken on by 5 April 2008 when General Secretary Ignatius Leong will visit Korea. According to the FIDE President`s opinion, the Republic of Korea has great potential for the development of chess as evidenced by the interest of Korean people in other intellectual games. FIDE President K. Ilyumzhinov expressed his wish that Korea could become a regional chess center. Also FIDE President K. Ilyumzhinov stated that through chess there could begin the unification of North and South Korea, and, to this effect, they should organize in the near future, a meeting of the children from North and South Korea over the chess board at the demarcation line.